Razor motor and casing therefor



Nov. 17, 1964 H. T. GooDwlrg 3,157,804

RAZOR MOTOR AND CASING THEREFOR Filed Sept. 12, 1961 IN VEN TOR. Ho yLE 7. ooow/N @f4/0MM ATTORNEY United States Patent O 3,157,864 RAZGR MGTGR. ANI) CASING THEREFR Hoyle T. Goodwin, Durham, NC., assigner to Goodwin Manufacturing 3.' Development lompany, Inc., Durham, PLC., a corporation of North arolina Filed Sept. 12, 1961, Ser. No. 137,625 it) llaims. (Cl. @lll-29) This invention is an improvement in electrically operated razors comprising a motor sealed in a casing or grip and in which the blade of the razor is caused to vibrate diagonally and longitudinally of its longitudinal axis.

An object of this invention isan electric safety razor characterized by extreme simplicity of structure, greater ease and smoothness of operation, comfortable balance in use, and low `cost of manufacture. l

Another object of the invention is a molded casing of novel design for enclosing and anchoring therein an electric power unit for driving the cutting blade of the razor.

A further object of the invention is to eliminate the use ot' circuit interrupters for driving the blade with the attendant arcing, point replacement and other undesirable characteristics of such means.

A still further object of the invention is a sealed-in power unit which is substantially noiseless in operation andwhich is moisture proof.

Another object of the invention is to reduce to a very minimum the cost of manufacturing by the arrangement and reduction of the number of parts in the assembly and the resultant reduction in assembling costs.

Another object of this invention is to provide a molded casing comprising two complementary sections, into one Y of which is molded and anchored the entire power unit.

Another object is to secure the power unit within a molded `casing comprising two complementary sections and in which the power unit is arranged in a position of angular rotation of approximately 45 about its longitudinal axis with respect to the parting line of the two molded sections. i

Other objects and advantages of this invention will become more apparent as the following description of several embodiments thereof progresses, reference being made to the accompanying drawing in which like reference characters are employed to designate like parts throughout the same.

In the drawing:

FIGURE l is a side elevation of an embodiment of my invention;

FIGURE 2 is a rear end view of the same;

FIGURE 3 is an opposite end view of the device shown in FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 4 is a longitudinal section taken on line 4-4 of FIGURE 5;

Y FIGURE 5 is a transverse section on line 5-5 of FIGURE 4;

FIGURE 6 is a view similar to that oi FIGURE 4 and illustrates a modified embodiment of the invention taken y on line 6-6 of FIGURE 7;

`several embodiments illustrated in the drawing, I provide a molded casing or grip within which the power unit for driving the blade is anchored. More specifically, the casing may comprise a pair of molded complementary longitudinal sections oi plastic, rubber or other suitable material, yin one of which is completely enclosed and sealed an electromagnet, while the other section carries within it an armature positioned in operative relation to the electromagnet when the sections are assembled together as a complete unit.

Referring more particularly to FIGURES l through 5, the grip or casing G comprises a pair of complementary molded longitudinal sections 5 and 6 secured together by means of screws 6', the section 5 having a longitudinal recessed portion to provide a chamber 7 for receiving the armature 8 of the power blade driving unit, while the section 6 is molded about the electromagnet 9 and completely encloses and seals it within that section. The rear or left hand ends of the assembled sections are recessed at 1li to house the electric terminal plugs or contacts 11 and 12 mounted on an insulation base 13. These contacts respectively are connected to the leads 14, 15 from the magnet coil 16 on the magnet core 17. rl`he forward or right hand ends of the assembled sections 5 and 6 terminate in a substantially .conical head portion 18 through which the stem 19 extends.

It is to be noted that the molded-in electromagnet 9 is anchored in the casing section 6 by simply molding the section about the same so that the magnet unit is completely enclosed and sealed within this section. Further, it is to be noted that the magnet unit is disposed along its longitudinal axis at an angular position of approximately 45 to the horizontal plane, as viewed in FIGURE 5, or along the parting line of the grip sections 5 and 6. In this manner, direction of vibratory motion imparted to the blade Ztl will be a product of a diagonal movement and a longitudinal movement along the lines 21 and 22, respectively, FIGURE 3.

The molded section 6 includes as a part thereof a wall 23 overlying the core ends 17 as well as the coil 16 to thus eilectively seal the electromagnet within section 6 against moisture and foreign matter and further prevents any relative movement of the same within this section.

In this embodiment of the invention, the armature 8 comprises a resilient bar 24 of magnetizable material firmly anchored at its rear end 25 in the material of the section 5, its other end being relatively free of the casing but having connection with the stem 19, as will be eX- plained hereinafter. To the under-surface of the resilient bar 24 are secured laminations of soit iron 24' extending substantially parallel with the wall 23 overlying the magnet coil and core and spaced relatively close thereto. There is, of course, sutlicient clearance above the spring bar 24 within the section 5, as shown at 7, to permit freedom of vibration of the armature within the casing. It will be seen that in this embodiment of the invention, the fulcrum on which the armature moves is located at the rear end ot' the armature 8 where the rear end of the spring bar 24 is anchored in the molded section 5.

A space 25 is provided in the forward portion of the casing and accommodates the arm 26 formed on the forward end of the spring bar 24. The arm 26 terminates in a head portion Z7 which is provided with an opening to receive the inner end of the stem 19. The stem 19 is held in place within the head 27 by means of a set screw Z8. The stern 19 extends through an opening 29 in the forward portion of the assembled sections and has ample clearance therein for vibratory motion. The outer end of the stem 19 terminates in a blade carrying head 30 while a gasket 31 of relatively soft resilient material such as foam rubber is interposed between the head 30 and the forward end walls of the sections 5 and 6. A threaded opening 31 is axially disposed within the head 30 and is adapted to receive the threaded shank 32 of the blade hold down member 33. The usual guard 34, together with the blade 2t), are interposed between the member 33 and the head 3l? and are locked in position snee/,eeft

by threading the shank 32 home into the threaded opening 31.

The amplitude of vibration may be varied or regulated by means of a screw 35 bearing against a coil spring 3d within a threaded opening in the forward end of the section 6. The free end of the Vspring has bearing against the stem 19.

In response to an alternating current vsupplied to the terminals 11 and 12, the armature will be caused to vibrate and this movement will be transmitted through the bar or armature 2d, the arm 26, the stem 19 to the head 3d, and the blade mounted thereon. The gasket 31. through which the stem 19 passes and against which the head Sil is positioned will permit efficient transmission of vibratory motion to the blade and will, at the same time, insure a high degree of smoothness of operation, as well as comfort to the user, when the blade is in contact with the face or other surface which is being shaved. The gasket also Vsea-ls the interior of the casing against ingress of foreign matter and moisture.

It will also be seen that the device of this embodiment is of extremely simple construction and can readily be assembled and disassembled. Furthermore, the simplicity of the structure is such that it materially reduces the cost of manufacture of such device.

Referring now to FIGURES 6 and 7 wherein I have disclosed a modiiied form of my invention, I provide an armature comprising a bar dll which carries on its under surface a plurality of soft iron laminations 41 spaced from but adjacent the electromagnet 9 and the poles 17 of the magnet core, but separated therefrom bythe thin wall 23 of the molded section d.

In this form of the invention, it will be noted that the rear end of the armature is not anchored in the casing as in the embodiment described above, but is positioned within the chamber 7 of the grip and supported in the position indicated by means of the compression springs 42 and d3 which are in alignment and disposed on opposite sides of the stem I9 of the head 30. The spring 42 is seated in a recess and is stationary within the recess but the compression exerted against spring 43 may be selected by means of a set screw 44 threaded into an opening in the molded section 6. Since the inner end of the stem 19 is detachably secured by means of a set screw 28 to the head 27 formed on the depending arm 2.a of the armature, the armature will be supported within the grip in a substantially floating condition. An exceedingly smooth operating mechanism results from this construction.

l have provided means in this embodiment whereby the amplitude of the armature vibrations may be controlled and such means as illustrated may consist of a movable bearing comprising an adjustable looped member d embracing the armature d@ along its forward end and having a shank portion 46 and a head 47. The shank d6 projects through a longitudinal slot 4S in the section 5 and is prevented from dropping into the recess in the section 5 by the knurled head or linger grip 47 which is of a diameter larger than the width' of the slot. interposed between the upper surface of the armature bar d@ and the inner wall of the section 5 and eX- tending below the slot d8 is a leaf spring 49 bowed upwardly and having sliding engagement along its lower portion with the upper surface of the bar 40. The for- Ward end of the leaf spring is inserted in a notch Sil in the upper part of the arm '26. The under surface of the forward end portion of the bar d6 is notched or serrated, as indicated at 51, at a plurality of spaced intervals and these notches receive the loop portion of the shank 46. By depressing the finger grip i7 against the compression of the leaf spring 49 and sliding the member 46 until the loop 45 is in a selected notch 51, the fulcrum point about which the armature moves can be shifted toward or away from the forward end of the grip, thus i Y selecting the amplitude of the vibration which is imparted to the razor blade through the head 30.

In addition, by this arrangement, the length of stroke of the blade can be selected, giving high eiliciency and smoother operation. Furthermore, in the embodiment illustrated in FIGURES 6 and 7, the mass of the armature kis concentrated behind or to the rear of the bearing, as viewed in these figures, and since the position of the fulcrum can be selected, the mass of the entire head may be counterbalanced, resulting in smoother operation and thus eliminating secondary vibrations.

In FIGURES 8 and 9, I have illustrated a further embodiment of the invention and which, in many respects, is similar to that shown in FIGURES 6 and 7. In the present embodiment, however, it will be seen that the fulcrum point will be located in the axis of a setscrew which connects the stem 56 at its inner end to the armature 57. The stern 5d is recessed at its outer end to receive the shank of the head 30, as at 53, and these parts are secured together by means of a set screw 59. In this embodiment, `both ends of the armatureY are utilized, the forward end transmitting vibrations to the razor head while the rear end di) of the armature is connected by means of a set screw 61 to the stem 62 of a blade 63 adapted to oscillate across an opening 64 in the plate-65 mounted in the rear end of the sections 5 and 6. A. nail le, or the like, '66 may be mounted on the outside of the molded section 5 for convenience in use. The blade 63 oscillating across the opening 64 when the magnet is energized serves as a convenient nail cutter actuated by the same magnetic power unit as actuates the head of the razor.

It will be seen from the above that the invention, in the several forms illustrated herein, is extremely simple in construction and can be manufactured at very low cost due to the adaptability of the mechanism to molded grip constructions. In each of the forms shown, the moldedin feature enables the device to be made inexpensively and, in each instance, it will be observed that the electromagnet is enclosed and sealed entirely within one of the molded sections, as at d, thus completely enclosing this unit within the section and protecting it against the eifects Y of moisture and foreign matter, while at the same time anchoring and iirmly positioning it in place within the section against movement therein. The relatively thin Wall 23 of the section d which embraces the pole pieces, as well as the coil of the electromagnet, permits the armature and the -laminations thereon to be adjusted in close proximity and within the effective magnetic eld set up when the magnet is energized by an alternating current supplied through the terminals 11 and 12.

Thus the objects set forth above can be carried out effectively, efficiently and at low cost.

It will be understood that by virtue of the use of alternating current, an alternating magnetic field, to which the aramture in each of the embodiments disclosed will respond, is set up, thus eliminating the necessity for circuit make-and-break devices which require frequent adjusting, cleaning or replacement of contact points.

Various changes may be made in the details of construction and arrangement of parts of the invention without departing from the spirit thereof or the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In an electric safety razor, a casing comprising a pair of molded, complementary longitudinal sections adapted to be secured together, anelectromagnet, one of said sections being molded about and completely enclosing said magnet, said electromagnet lying along the longitudinal axis of said section and angularly rotated with respect to the plane of section separation in a fixed position less than a right angle in one direction about said section axis.

2. In an electric safety razor, a casing comprising a pair of molded, complementary longitudinal sections ares/,soa

a adapted to be secured together and to enclose a motor therein, said motor including an electromagnet and a vibrating armature, one of said sections being molded about and completely enclosing said magnet, the other of said sections being recessed, said vibrating armature carried in the recess Within the Working magnetic ield of said magnet when the latter is energized, and a driving connection carried by one end of the armature, said armature other end being embedded and anchored in said other complementary molded casing section.

3. In an electric safety razor, a casing comorising a pair of molded, complementary longitudinal sections adapted to be secured together, an electromagnet, one of said sections being molded about and completely enclosing said magnet, said electromagnet lying along the ioni tudinal axis of said section and angularly rotate with respect to the plane of section separation in a position approximately 45 in one direction about the said section axis, the other or said sections being recessed, and a vibrating armature carried in the recess within the workin(y magnetic iield of said magnet when the latter is energized, a driving connection carried by one end of the armature, and means for regulating the amplitude of Vibrations transmitted to the driving connection.

4. In an electric safety razor, a casing comprising a pair of molded, complementary longitudinal sections adapted to be secured together, an electromagnet, one of said sections being molded about and completely enclosing said magnet, the other of said sections being recessed, and an armature carried in the recess within the Working netic field of said magnet When the latter is energized, a driving connection connected with one end or" the armature, said armature other end being embedded in said other complementary molded casing section, said embedded armature end defining a fulcrum about which said armature is adapted to vibrate, and means for varying the amplitude of vibrations transmitted to the driving connection.

5. In an electric safety razor, a casing comprising a pair of molded, complementary longitudinal sections adapted to be secured together, an electromagnet, one of said sections being molded about and completely enclosing, sealing and anchoring said magnet therein, said electromagnet lying along the longitudinal axis of said section and angularly rotated with respect to the plane of section separation in a fixed position approximately 45 in one direction about the said section axis, the other of said sections being recessed, a vibratable armature carried in the recess Within the Working magnetic field of said magnet when the latter is energized, a driving connection carried on one end of the armature, said driving connection including a stem fixed to one end of the armature and extending through and spaced from the end of the casing, and adjustable means for exerting a force of compression against one side of said stem to regulate the movement of said stem under vibratory impulse.

6. ln an electric safety razor of the alternating current actuated type, a casing comprising a pair of molded, complimentary longitudinal sections adapted to be secured together, an electromagnet, one or" said sections being molded about and completely enclosing said magnet, the other of said sections being recessed, and an armature carried in the recess within the working magnetic tield of said magnet when the latter is energized, and a driving connection connected with one end of the armature, said armature being vibratable in response to the alternations in said magnetic eld about a ulcrum intermediate the ends of said armature.

7. in an electric safety razor of the alternating current actuated type, a casing comprising a pair of molded, complementary longitudinal sections adapted to be secured together, an el ctromagnet, one of said sections being molded about and completely enclosing said magnet, the other of said sections being recessed, and an armature carried in the recess within the working magnetic field of said magnet when the latter is energized, and a driving connection connected with one end of the armature, said armature being yibratable in response to the alternations in said ma''netic field about a fulcrum intermediate the ends of s armature, and means for selecting any one of a plurality of available ulcrum points between the ends or" the armature.

8. In an electric safety razor of the alternating current actuated type, a casing comprising a pair of molded, compiementary lonsitudinal sections adapted to be secured together, an electromagnet, one of said sections eing molded about and completely enclosing said magnet, the other of said sections being recessed, and a vibratable armature carried in the recess within the Working magnetic field of said magnet when the latter is enervized, and a power output driving connection disposed at one end of the armature, said armature being vibratable in response to the alternations in said magnetic field about a selected fulcro-m intermediate the ends or said armature, said last named means comprising a spring in the recessed casing section and having sliding engagement with a wall the recess and with the armature for exerting a downward pressure on the armature in the region of the selected iulcrum.

9. .in a razor having an adjustable vibrating armature drive, a casinT comprising a pair of mol ed, complementary longitudinal sections adapted to be secured together to enclose said drive, said drive consisting of an electromagnet and a vibratable armature Within the Working magnetic field of said magnet when the latter is energized, one of said casing sections being molded about and completely enclosing and supporting said magnet in iixed position therewithin, the other ot said sections being recessed to receive and support the Vibratable armature therein, an output driving connection on one end of the armature, and means in the casing adiacent the output driving connection and operatively disposed to regulate the amplitude of vibration of said armature.

l0. ln a razor of the class described, an adjustable motor comprising a xed electromagnet and a vibrating armature, and a casing comprising a pair of molded cornplementary longitudinal sections adapted to be secured together and to enclose said motor therein, one of said sections being molded about and completely enclosing, anchoring and sealing said electromagnet within said section, the other of said sections having a longitudinal recess for receiving said armature in said recessed section and means for movably supporting the armature at its one end portion in said recessed section and Within the Working magnetic iield of said magnet when the latter is energized, and means carried by the casing for selecting and regulating the amplitude of the Vibrating armature.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 

1. IN AN ELECTRIC SAFTY RAZOR, A CASING COMPRISING A PAIR OF MOLDED, COMPLEMENTARY LONGITUDINAL SECTIONS ADAPTED TO BE SECURED TOGETHER, AN ELECTROMAGNET, ONE OF SAID SECTIONS BEING MOLDED ABOUT AND COMPLETELY ENCLOSING SAID MAGNET, SAID ELECTROMAGNET LYING ALONG THE LONGITUDINAL AXIS OF SAID SECTION AND ANGULARLY ROTATED WITH RESPECT TO THE PLANE OF SECTION SEPARATION IN A FIXED POSITION LESS THAN A RIGHT ANGLE IN ONE DIRECTION ABOUT SAID SECTION AXIS. 